France expels journalist Xenia Fedorova

French authorities have ordered the expulsion of Russian journalist Xenia Fedorova, accusing her of acting as a conduit for Kremlin disinformation and posing a threat to public order. The interior ministry confirmed the order on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, following a report by the newspaper Libération.

The expulsion order states that Fedorova's actions undermine the fundamental interests of the state and constitute a serious threat to public order. It specifically accuses her of acting as a conduit for disinformation campaigns orchestrated by Russian authorities with the aim of destabilizing public order and manipulating public opinion to weaken confidence in French and European institutions. Fedorova, a 45-year-old former director of the French branch of the Russian state broadcaster RT, has been a regular commentator on French media outlets owned by conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré, including the CNews television channel, Europe 1 radio, and Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper.

Fedorova's lawyer, Emmanuel Piwnica, condemned the decision as a serious attack on press freedom and announced an immediate appeal. He stated that Fedorova is a journalist who has always practiced...